Taking stock of Frank Martin’s Gamecocks as they embark on first SEC road trip
There was a flicker of a moment on Tuesday where it seemed like the South Carolina men’s basketball team was mounting a comeback against the No. 9 team in the country.
All of sudden, things just seemed to click. Frank Martin’s Gamecocks went on a 16-4 run, and with six minutes to go, they trailed Auburn by just eight points. But the Tigers quickly regained control, dealing USC an 81-66 loss.
The loss was an unpleasant way to open the 18-game Southeastern Conference slate for South Carolina, but the Gamecocks still learned something about themselves in the way they fought in the second half, matching the Tigers with 37 points.
“There’s a lot of positives out of this game,” Martin said Tuesday night. “It stinks to lose. Losing’s not any good.
“... Our practices leading into this today have been tremendous. We just gotta keep working. League play is difficult. Now that we got this out of the way, I think we’ll be a lot better from a performance standpoint Saturday.”
At 9-4 (0-1 SEC) on the season, the Gamecocks will now embark on their first SEC road trip, taking on Vanderbilt (9-4, 1-0) in Nashville on Saturday before heading to Knoxville to face No. 18 Tennessee (10-3, 1-1) on Jan. 11.
With nine new players and a handful of key injuries, the Gamecocks have performed above expectations so far this season, beating the likes of Florida State, UAB, Georgetown and Western Kentucky. But can the Gamecocks go toe-to-toe with the powers of the SEC?
For a moment on Tuesday night, it looked like the Gamecocks could keep pace with the No. 9 Tigers. The next two games should provide more answers. Here are key storylines surrounding Martin’s Gamecocks as they hit the road for the Volunteer State.
These Gamecocks are deeper than last year
The obvious strength of this year’s team is its depth, something that Martin and his staff worked to fortify during a transfer-heavy offseason. However, injuries and positive COVID-19 cases have sapped USC of some of that depth in recent weeks.
Tuesday’s game marked one of the first times all 16 players dressed in uniform, but it was clear that some of those players had some rust to knock off after extended absences. Whenever Martin turned to his bench against Auburn, the team looked disjointed.
“Our bench, which has been really good for us this year, did not help us today,” Martin said. “And it’s not just points, it’s defensively, it’s not running the offense the right way, it’s disappointing.”
One player doesn’t drive the scoring for this USC team. When the Gamecocks have been at their best this season, they’ve spread the scoring wealth. In wins against FSU and Georgetown, USC outscored the opposing team in bench points 36-16 and 32-14, respectively.
At full strength, the Gamecocks are flush with options, especially in the backcourt. Precocious freshmen Jacobi Wright and Devin Carter have proven interchangeable with the likes of veterans Jermaine Couisnard, Erik Stevenson and James Reese. While Couisnard sat with an ankle injury, transfer Chico Carter Jr. showed he could be a weapon and outside shooter.
What makes this USC team go is the sum of its parts, and it needs those parts healthy and on the court together.
Where does USC stand in the SEC?
Though this Gamecocks team appears stronger than the 6-15 Gamecocks of last season, SEC play can be unforgiving. The conference looks deep this season with five teams ranked in the latest Top 25.
Among conference teams, South Carolina ranks sixth in rebounding margin and fourth in field-goal percentage defense — both hallmarks of Martin’s teams. On kenpom.com, the Gamecocks rank 45th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Offensively, the Gamecocks are lagging behind the rest of the conference, ranking in the bottom of the 14-team league in field-goal percentage (10th), scoring offense (9th) and assist/turnover ratio (12th).
The team has shown flashes of offensive prowess, cracking triple digits twice this season, but the team has been streaky shooting from the perimeter and hasn’t yet found a consistent post scorer beyond starting center Wildens Leveque.
The culture has a different feel
Though not quantifiable, there’s a different feeling around the Gamecocks than there was a year ago.
Newcomers Stevenson, Reese and A.J. Wilson have added a veteran edge in the locker room and a toughness on the court that the Gamecocks couldn’t find in 2020-21. The freshmen Carter and Wright have played impactful minutes right away and have added their own energetic spark.
Where last year’s team would struggle to finish games, these Gamecocks found the gumption to hold off FSU by one point and UAB by three. And the Gamecocks showcased some of that same moxie as they attempted to come back against Auburn in the second half Tuesday night. That personality could serve the Gamecocks well as they move through a rigorous SEC slate.
Next USC men’s basketball game
Who: South Carolina at Vanderbilt
When: Noon Saturday
Where: Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville
Watch: ESPNU
